US court stops auction of over 100 Titanic artifacts

A U.S. federal court has intervened to stop an auction of more than 100 historical artifacts recovered from the Titanic shipwreck. The ruling, issued by Federal District Court Judge Rebecca Beach Smith in Virginia, halts a planned auction by RMS Titanic Inc., the company holding exclusive salvage rights to the wreck.

The court's decision was based on concerns regarding the integrity and preservation of the collection. Judge Smith stated that the sale of the artifacts, which were recovered from the Titanic, is subject to court approval. She has requested that the company provide an inventory of the items and details about their current condition.

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The sale of more than 100 historical artifacts planned to be presented at the auction is subject to court approval.

The collection slated for auction includes items such as jewelry, tableware, and a bronze angel that once adorned the Titanic's grand staircase. The proposed sale had faced opposition from various entities, including the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), archaeologists, and the French government, all of whom advocate for the preservation of the artifacts as a unified collection.

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Concerns about the integrity and preservation of the collection were effective in her decision.